Bachelor of Theology Courses
Credits: 2.00
This course teaches the student how to prepare and deliver expository messages in an evangelistic context. The first part of the course focuses on theological foundations. The second part of the course takes the student through the process of preparing an expository message. This message will be delivered preferably in an actual ministry setting.
Credits: 2.00
Building on Evangelistic Speaking I, this course aims at giving the student more insight in issues such as congregational and missionary preaching, expository preaching and Catechism preaching. The student is expected to prepare two expository, evangelistic messages under supervision of the professor of Homiletics and/or a minister/mentor in the field. These messages will be delivered preferably in actual ministry settings.
Credits: 4.00
Building on 4515 Missiology, this course aims at deepening the student’s understanding of Biblical and theological foundations of mission and evangelism, history of mission and evangelism, and contemporary strategy and methods of mission and evangelism. The course ends with a capstone project that is designed to suit the student’s interests and future ministry.
Credits: 2.00
The Bachelor internship is a field education program designed to prepare students for a future role in Christian ministry. The student will spend a minimum of two weeks in a practical ministry setting such as foreign mission, home mission, mission aid, or pastoral care. The internship is to be completed during the summer months.
Credits: 2.00
This course introduces students to the wide field of hermeneutics so that the student becomes more aware of all aspects of the reading and interpretive process. It also instructs the students in the principles and practice of interpreting the Scriptures in order to help equip the student for the task of exegesis.
Credits: 2.00
After introducing philosophy and logic, this course surveys some key Western philosophical ideas and debates with a view to how they have affected theology and vice versa. The historic Christian paradigm of “faith seeking understanding” receives close attention, as do responses to the Enlightenment, including Reformational Philosophy (Dooyeweerdian) and Reformed Epistemology.
Credits: 2.00
This course explores the introductory and underlying questions, or prolegomena, of doctrinal studies. Topics include the nature, source, and method of dogmatics, with a view to promoting sound doctrine within the church today. We also study how God reveals himself, particularly in his inspired Word, which is the regulation, foundation, and confirmation of our faith. Fall semester.
Credits: 2.00
This course aims at a thorough knowledge of the Apostles, Nicene, and Athanasian Creeds, including both their history and content.
Credits: 3.00
The study of the church’s creeds and confessions is also called symbolics. This course focuses on a thorough knowledge of the Belgic Confession, the Heidelberg Catechism, and the Canons of Dort, the Reformed confessions which have become known as the Three Forms of Unity. Attention will be paid to both their history and content.
Credits: 2.00
This course explores Biblical principles regarding the church and its ministries and offices, with special reference to the ministry of the Word. Each of the sub-disciplines of the Ministry and Mission department are introduced, such as homiletics, liturgics, catechetics, and pastoral care.
Credits: 2.00
This is an introductory course in the principles, history and practice of preaching, with special attention to important themes in Reformed homiletics such as Catechism preaching and redemptive-historical preaching. The students are introduced to the sermon preparation process. By the end of the course each student is expected to prepare and present a sermon proposal on an assigned passage.
Credits: 1.00
This course is an introduction to the study of Catechism teaching. The course consists of two modules. Module 1: Theological foundations for Catechism teaching (Dr. R. Bredenhof). Module 2: Pedagogical principles for Catechism teaching (Dr. C. van Halen-Faber, J. Huizenga).
Credits: 3.00
The first part of this course deals with Old Testament History within the context of the history of the ancient Near East. Therefore, it also includes discussions on geographical, archaeological and historiographical subjects. The second part deals with religious and social institutions found in the Old Testament, taking into account the ancient Near Eastern cultural setting.
Credits: 3.00
This course deals with the larger Judaic and Greco-Roman context in which the New Testament events took place. Attention is given to the extrabiblical sources for much of that knowledge, to the intertestamental history, to the sects and movements that were current, and to other aspects of daily life in New Testament times.
Credits: 2.00
This course studies the history of the early and medieval church, with special attention to the doctrinal controversies of the period, the interaction of church and state, the work of Augustine, and the development of scholastic method in theology.
Credits: 2.00
This course begins in the late medieval era and then studies the history of the Protestant Reformation in Europe, with subsequent developments up to about A.D. 1800.
Credits: 2.00
Using Holy Scripture as the foundation, this course explores the doctrine of God (theology per se), including the being and attributes of our Triune God.
Credits: 2.00
Using Holy Scripture as the foundation, this course explores the work of our God in creation, providence, and his eternal counsel.
Credits: 2.00
Using the Three Forms of Unity as a reference point, the history and text of various significant confessions from the 16th century until today are studied. Special attention is given to the Westminster Standards.
Credits: 2.00
This course studies the history and methods of Christian apologetics – both negative and positive approaches – and equips students to defend their faith before the world. The first half of the course covers the biblical basis, history, and main schools of apologetics while the second half engages in the practice of apologetics.
Credits: 2.00
A study of the principles and practice of pastoral and diaconal care in the Christian congregation. The course includes a discussion of various approaches to congregational development.
Credits: 2.00
The first half of this course is a study in World Religions, focusing on religions that have a significant presence in Canada (Islam, Hinduism, Sikhism). The second half of the course is a study of the principles, history and practice of evangelism (home mission) and church planting.
Credits: 4.00
A study of the origin and specific character of the books of the Old Testament. The authorship, date, contents, structure as well as the special place or purpose of each book is discussed. Attention is also given to the history of the study of Canonics as well as current trends in this field.
Credits: 4.00
The course deals with the grounds for and the history of the recognition of the books in the New Testament as holy and canonical. Further, these books are studied with respect to their place and purpose in the canon, and the contents of most of the books are surveyed.
Credits: 2.00
This course begins with the biblical grounds for church polity, then reviews the historical development of Reformed consistorial and synodical church polity, followed by study of the Church Order of Dort as regards the ecclesiastical offices and supervision of doctrine.
Credits: 2.00
This course covers the period A.D. 1800 to present in European church history, particularly Dutch Reformed church history. The events of the Secession (1832), Doleantie (1886), Union (1892), Liberation (1944), as well as more recent events are studied in their historical context.
Credits: 4.00
Using Holy Scripture as the foundation, this course explores the doctrines of the creation of humanity, sin, and covenant.
Credits: 3.00
In this course, students are introduced to the field of ethics as the study of loving and pursuing “the good.” In order to determine what is the good and to seek to follow it, God’s Word must be our guide. On its basis, we then seek to develop Christian virtues and obey God’s commands.
Credits: 2.00
A study of important themes in Homiletics: redemptive-historical preaching, covenantal preaching, Catechism preaching, and history of preaching including recent developments in Homiletics.
Credits: 2.00
Credits: 2.00
A study of the principles, historical development, and practice of the worship service of the Christian church, with special attention to liturgical practices in the Reformed tradition and an excursion into the field of hymnology (the study of singing and music in Christian worship).
Credits: 2.00
Credits: 4.00
A study of the history of God’s revelation in the Old Testament from creation to the end of prophecy. Included in this course is an orientation in and critical discussion of past and current Old Testament theologies.
Credits: 3.00
The concept of a “history of revelation” is discussed and attention is paid to how Christian thought develops from the teachings of the Lord Jesus in the Gospels to the writings of the apostle Paul.
Credits: 3.00
This course seeks to strengthen the student’s knowledge of significant hermeneutical and methodological principles and procedures with respect to hermeneutics and exegesis. It builds on the knowledge and skills gained in Hermeneutics 1206 by considering material at a more advanced level. In addition, this course deals with some of the hermeneutical challenges of reading Scripture, develops skills with respect to the narrative critical approach to Scripture, and then applies these methods learned specifically to passages of the Gospel according to John.
Credits: 2.00
This course completes the study of the Church Order of Dort, examining in historical perspective the practical aspects of the ecclesiastical assemblies; worship, sacraments, and ceremonies; and church discipline.
Credits: 2.00
This course covers church history in North and South America from the 16th c. to the present. Colonization, the First and Second Great Awakenings, the rise of Evangelicalism, and more recent developments receive attention. The history of the Christian Reformed, Free Reformed, Protestant Reformed, and Canadian Reformed Churches is also studied in this context.
Credits: 4.00
Using Holy Scripture as the foundation, this course explores the doctrines of the person and work of Jesus Christ. In addition, attention will be given to the Bride of Christ, the church, and the means of grace, both preaching and the sacraments.
Credits: 4.00
Using Holy Scripture as the foundation, this course begins with the diverse aspects of our salvation and ends with the culmination of God?s redemptive work in final glory.
Credits: 2.00
This course introduces students to the Biblical and theological principles of mission, in addition to the history and practices of cross-cultural mission work. Special attention is given to issues such as contextualization, syncretism, and the relationship with young churches in the developing world.
Credits: 2.00
A study of aspects of pastoral care in the Christian congregation. Complex pastoral situations are discussed (depression, sexual abuse, pre-marriage counselling, etc.). Attention is given to cooperation with professional care givers such as social workers and psychologists.
Credits: 1.00
This course builds on 1512 Catechetics I and focuses on the theory and practice of Catechism teaching. The course consists of three modules, spread out over three years of study. Module 1: Preparing and delivering Catechism lessons. Module 2: Classroom management; special learners. Module 3: Content & curriculum of Catechism instruction.
